Jay Kline

9.4

From magnum, the 1996 Grande Année pours a brilliant pale gold color with a persistent mousse. Initially, the wine showed more oxidative notes but it freshened up considerably with air (in fact, a tiny amount was leftover for the next morning and it remained brilliant, racy even!). On the nose, notes of almond, citrus, honey, chalky minerals and brioche. On the palate, wine is developing with absolutely brilliant acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. The 1996 vintage is simply amazing. Here we are, 28 years past vintage and this bright and full of life! Granted, it’s a magnum, but still. Drink now with patience or enjoy through 2046+. — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a tasty one from Mount Veeder.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Gentle nose with black and red fruits, light oak, herbs, tobacco leaf, light vanilla, licorice and black pepper.

Medium plus in body, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, black cherries, light oak, dark chocolates, peppercorn, coffee and light cola.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder in Napa Valley.

Elegant, soft and smooth. Not 'in your face' kind of wine, which is nice to see out of Napa.

Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 3 hours of airtime.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Will be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolved.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and good with food. I paired it with a Ribeye steak.

A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 30 months. A tiny production of only 4 barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

12 months of sur lie aging in barrel, bottle aged an additional 24 months prior to disgorging, wine was finished with no dosage.Pale lemon with aromas of stone fruits, blossom and yeasty notes, fine creamy mousse and tiny rapid bubble flow, full-bodied, ripe apple and pear on the palate, citrus and some spice, nice acidity, well balanced ending with toasty mineral notes. Nice! — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Gorgeously floral nose. Unreal mid season cherries with such lift and clarity. Wow. So clean. Gorgeous spices as well. Palate is juicy and clean. Sappy, pure and clean. Just a great and classic bottle of Liaison. Wispy tannins. Excited to see how this develops. After 24 hours nose is so deep and has great roses and violets. High toned mid season cherry. Really pretty. Terrific spice and only a tiny VA that just adds and does subtract. Palate is juicy and lean. Clean and classic. So linear and clear. Such great mid season cherry fruit. Nimble and not as powerful as recent vintages. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

9.4

Absolutely drinking perfectly tonight, the 1999 CdPs always seemed less structured than other vintages around then, great acid balance, just a tiny bit of funk adds some nice complexity, excellent!! — 5 months ago

with Jim

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Perrier-Jouët, founded in 1811 in Epernay by Pierre-Nicolas-Marie Perrier and his wife, Adele Jouët. The firm began shipping wine to Great Britain in 1813 and to the United States by 1837. Pale lemon color with fine mousse and tiny bubbles, aromas of stone fruit and citrus. On the palate flavors of complex fresh fruit, vivid acidity, perfect balance on long finish ending with a yeasty mineral touch. Great value! A fav! Very nice! — 8 months ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.5

Screaming blast of tart lemon acidity. Not very pleasant. Beautiful light yellow with tiny scrubbing bubbles. After about 15-20 minutes a type of weighted creamy mid-palate makes me smile. Way too young, but simply luscious and lifted with a long, caressing finish. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Sourced from over 70 tiny parcels of old-vine, head-pruned Tempranillo blended with a small percentage of Graciano, aged 15 months in French oak. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, sweet spice and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and ripe plum with notes of vanilla, spice, tobacco and floral herbs. Fine firm tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and earthy character. Very nice! — 4 months ago

Deborah M

9.6

Outstanding. Brioche. Nuanced. Elegant. Tiny bubbles. Lovely. — 7 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Girard really did well in 19. This has a level of aromatic refinement you only get in the best Girard vintages. 12 is the best vintage before this. Then 14. Then 17. 13 is a favorite of mine even if it is ranked here. Anyways the nose has refined and precise florals, dark black cherry that has a stank to it. Just classy and intense. Screams great vintage. Palate is terrific. Beautiful soaking fruit, amazing cut, clarity, freshness and concentration. Has that amazing tiny berry intense black/red 19 fruit. Focused like a laser. This is so good. What a spine this has. Lavieres always ages well but thus will age particularly well. Add 5 years to whatever window you think. Maybe 10. Wild berry fruit and wet earth develop with air. Really pretty and complex. Compact with terrific fruit sweetness. Superb grip. I’d wait 5-6 years. What a finish. Maybe the finest young red I’ve had from Girard. — 2 years ago